Darning device.



I. P. NICHOLS. DARNING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1909.

Patented NOV. 21, 1911.

UNITE IDA IP. NICHOLS, OF ITHACA, NEW YORK.

DARNING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

Application filed July 22, 1909. Serial No. 508,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IDA P. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Darning Devices, of which the following description, in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to darning devices and the like and among other objects provides a holder for stockings or other articles to be darned in a sewing or other machine.

The character of my invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of an illus trative darning device embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1 showing a stocking on the device in position to be darned.

The illustrative holder embodying my invention resembles a crown in its general shape and comprises a body or ring 3 provided at intervals with guide extensions 5 projecting away from one edge thereof and impaling points or prongs 7 projecting from the opposite edge. These guide extensions may be conveniently made of wires bent in the form of loops, the ends of the wires being brought together and retained by straps 9 which conveniently may be incised out of the ring material and be bent inwardly from said ring. To prevent the loops from slipping out of their straps, the former are bent to form shoulders 11 engaging one edge of said ring. Herein the prongs 7 referred to are each formed from a continuation of one of the wire ends of each loop. These prongs extend beyond the lower edge of the ring and are bent outwardly to engage said edge and contribute to the retention of said guide loops. The upper end portions 15 of said loops are bent outwardly effectively to retain the article guided thereon, as more fully hereinafter described.

As stated among other uses the device is adapted to be used in connection with a sewing machine and to permit the introduction of the presser-foot of a sewing machine within said ring the latter preferably is not made continuous but is interupted and tends to spring outwardly somewhat to leave an opening 17.

In use the holder is inserted into the stocking with its prong edge foremost. The leg of the stocking is gathered or folded back on the outer sides of the guide loops until the portion to be darned is reached, whereupon said portion is spread or stretched across the pronged edge of the ring and securely held by said prongs in the form of a tight, flat head 19; the outward springing tendency of said ring contributing to this result. The leg of the stocking or portion not intended to be mended is thus held in the form of a compact ring 21 on said guides, permitting ready access to both the upper and lower faces of the stretched head-like portion which is to be darned. The stocking folds are effectually prevented from working or rolling ofl' over the ends of the guides by the outwardly bent ends 15 of the latter. To darn this fiat head portion in a sewing machine, the usual presser-foot of the latter may be removed or retained as desired. If retained, said foot is passed through the ring-opening l7 and the flat fabric head 19 slid beneath said foot. To permit the portion to be darned to be freely fed under the presser foot without interference from the sewing machine feed, the presser foot should be held a short space above the upper surface of the portion to be darned. The sewing machine needle may then be reciprocated in the usual manner and the holder may be fed under the presser-foot as desired until the darning of said portion is completed. The holder is then slid from under the presser-foot and other portions of the stocking stretched onto said ring and darned in a similar manner until the stocking is entirely mended. The holder is then removed from the stocking.

By my invention is provided a darning device which is simple in construction and operation and by the use of which articles may be darned much more rapidly and effectively than, so far as I am aware, has hitherto been possible.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown herein and that various modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Claims:

1. A device of the class described, com prising a ring having wire guide loops projecting upwardly therefrom, said loops terminating in stretching prongs projecting outwardly from said ring.

2. In a da'rning device, the combination of a discontinuous expansible ring having guides projecting therefrom and outwardly projecting prongs for spreading the portion of the article to be darned across said ring in the form of a tight, smooth head.

3. In a darning device the combination of a single expansible, discontinuous ring for insertion in an article to be darned With guides projecting from said ring for receiving other portions of the article, said ring being freely expansible in the article and continuously tending to expand and maintain taut the portion thereof to be darned.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IDA P. NICHOLS. Witnesses:

Enw. L. NICHOLS, LIDA M. WEATHERUP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

